The ACS Philadelphia Section Award is an esteemed honor recognizing members of the ACS Philadelphia Section who have made significant scientific contributions to the field of chemistry. The award is given to individuals whose work has not only advanced the discipline but has also enhanced public appreciation of the profession. In exceptional cases, the award may be presented jointly to two members. Past recipients include prominent chemists from academia and industry, highlighting the award’s role in celebrating outstanding achievements within the local chemical community.
Nominations for the award are solicited annually through a formal call for nominations, which is open to all members of the ACS Philadelphia Section. Any member may nominate a deserving candidate. Information about the nomination process is published in the section’s official magazine, The Catalyst.
Past winners:
| Year | Recipient |
| 2025 | Dr. Spiridoula Matsika Temple University |
| 2024 | Dr. Ron Levy Temple University |
| 2023 | Dr. Rick Ewing Rapafusyn Pharmaceuticals |
| 2022 | Dr. Joseph S. Francisco University of Pennsylvania |
| 2021 | Dr. David Christianson University of Pennsylvania |
| 2020 | Dr. Yury Gogotsi Drexel University |
| 2019 | Dr. Michelle M. Francl Bryn Mawr College |
| 2018 | Dr. Marsha I. Lester University of Pennsylvania |
| 2017 | Dr. Kurt W. Kolasinski West Chester University |
| 2016 | Anthony W. Addison Drexel University |
| 2015 | Dr. Donna Huryn |
| 2014 | Feng Gai University of Pennsylvania |
| 2013 | Ahmed F. Abdel-Magid Therachem Research Medilab ( India ) Pvt. Ltd. |
| 2012 | Marisa Kozlowski University of Pennsylvania |
| 2011 | Larry G. Sneddon University of Pennsylvania |
| 2010 | No Award |
| 2009 | Eric Borguet Temple University |
| 2008 | John Baldwin Vitae Pharmaceuticals, Inc |
| 2007 | Robert J. Levis Temple University |
| 2006 | Patrick J. Walsh University of Pennsylvania |
| 2005 | Robert F. Pasternack Swarthmore College |
| 2004 | Michael. J. Therien University of Pennsylvania |
| 2003 | Gary A. Molander University of Pennsylvania |
| 2002 | Joel R. Huff Merck Research Laboratories |
| 2001 | George Preti Monell Chemical Senses Center |
| 2000 | Bradford B. Wayland University of Pennsylvania |
| 1999 | Yen Wei Drexel University |
| 1998 | Michael Klein University of Pennsylvania |
| 1997 | Magid Abou-Gharbia Wyeth-Ayerst Research |
| 1996 | Timothy M. Swager University of Pennsylvania |
| 1995 | Hai-Lung Dai University of Pennsylvania |
| 1994 | S. Walter Englander University of Pennsylvania |
| 1993 | Jane M. Vanderkooi University of Pennsylvania |
| 1992 | Paul S. Anderson Merck Sharp & Dohme |
| 1991 | Cynthia A. Maryanoff RW Johnson Pharm. Research Institute |
| 1990 | Robin M. Hochstrasser University of Pennsylvania |
| 1989 | Frank B. Mallory Bryn Mawr College |
| 1988 | Daniel F. Veber Merck Sharp and Dohme |
| 1987 | Robert O. Hutchins Drexel University |
| 1986 | Amos B. Smith, III University of Pennsylvania |
| 1985 | Brian W. Metcalf Smith Kline & French |
| 1984 | Bruce E. Maryanoff McNeil Pharmaceuticals |
| 1983 | Kyriacos Nicolaou University of Pennsylvani |
| 1982 | Philip E. Pfeffer ERRC, USDA |
| 1981 | Franklin A. Davis Drexel University |
| 1980 | Daniel Swern Temple University |
| 1979 | Mortimer M. Labes Temple University |
| 1978 | Jenny Glusker Inst. for Cancer Res. & University of Pennsylvania |
| 1977 | David Kritchevsky Wistar Institute |
| 1976 | David White University of Pennsylvani |
| 1975 | Irwin A. Rose University of Pennsylvania |
| 1974 | Bernard Loev Smith Kline & French |
| 1973 | Lyle H. Phifer FMC Corporation |
| 1972 | Madeleine Joullie University of Pennsylvania |
| 1971 | Ernst Berliner Bryn Mawr College |
| 1970 | Edward R. Thornton University of Pennsylvania |
| 1969 | Britton Chance University of Pennsylvania |
| 1968 | B. Peter Block Pennsalt Chemical Corp. |
| 1967 | Alan G. MacDiarmid University of Pennsylvania |
| 1966 | Serge N. Timasheff ERRC, USDA |
| 1965 | Sidney Weinhouse Temple University |
| 1964 | Newman M. Bortnick Rohm and Haas |
| 1963 | Charles C. Price University of Pennsylvania |
| 1962 | Murray Hauptschein Pennsalt Chemicals |
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